What People Want | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 22, 1879

What People Want.

It is not always that a "little learning is a dangerous thing." It may be a very good thing, especially if it is Latinized. A case in point is given in Potter's Monthly. An invalid discharged his first physician because he was honest enough to tell him that he had a sore throat; and the second doctor, having some hints of the fact, answered the sick man, when questioned, that his case was highly abnormal, and had degenerated into synanche tonsilaris.

"Oh, doctor," cried the patient, "do say that word again."

"Why, sir, I said you were at present laboring under synanche tonsilaris."

"Why, just think, doctor, that fool told me I had nothing but a sore throat, and I told him I had no use for such a dunce. Doctor, what did you call it?"

"I told you, sir, in plain terms, that the morbid condition of your system was obvious, and that it has terminated in synanche tonsilaris."

"Oh, doctor, it must be a monstrous bad complaint. Think you can cure me, doctor?"

"Now, though your diagnosis is clear, your prognosis is doubtful; yet by prudent care and skillful treatment you may recover."

"Oh, well doctor, do stay all night, and I will give you anything you ask."

He got well of his sore throat, and paid the doctor a generous fee.